Numerous charges laid against Lethbridge male following months-long investigation into fatal crash

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 16, 2025.

Medicine Hat News

Coaldale RCMP have laid charges in an August fatal collision.

A total of 15 charges have been laid on a Lethbridge resident following a two-vehicle collision north of Coalhurst on Highway 3, at the interchange of Highway 3A.

On Aug. 21 at 12:05 a.m., Coaldale RCMP responded alongside fire and EMS on scene, to find one vehicle fully engulfed in flames with front-end damage, and a second vehicle, also with substantial front-end damage, consistent with being involved in a head-on collision.

One driver, a male resident of Lethbridge, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. His seven-year-old son was transported to a Calgary hospital with critical injuries.

The second driver, a female resident of Calgary, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The passengers of this vehicle, children aged 16, 13 and nine years old, all from the same family, were taken to a Calgary hospital.

RCMP say the 13-year-old female passenger succumbed to her injuries on Aug. 22.

As a result of a five-month investigation, the RCMP criminal collision investigation team, with assistance from Coaldale RCMP, an RCMP Collision reconstructionist and the RCMP interviewing-assistance team, the male driver involved in the collision was charged.

On Jan. 8, 34-year-old Mark Briggs was arrested in Lethbridge. He has been charged with 15 criminal code offences, some of which include:

– Operating a motor vehicle while impaired causing death;

– Dangerous driving causing death;

– Four counts of operating a motor vehicle while impaired causing bodily harm; and

– Four counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

After a Judicial Interim Release Hearing, Briggs was released with conditions and will appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Lethbridge on Feb. 10.